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A CEREMONIAL RESOLUTION 23-221 IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA December 17, 2019 To recognize and celebrate Experience Unlimited, also known as E.U. Band, for their impact on go-go music culture and Ward 8.

WHEREAS, Gregory “Sugar Bear” Elliot is a native Ward 8 Washingtonian, go-go music pioneer and founding member of the legendary Washington DC go-go band Experience Unlimited (E.U.); WHEREAS, Sugar Bear hails from the Ward 8 neighborhood of “Valley Green” and is a proud graduate of Ballou Senior High School; WHEREAS, the band chose the name Experience due to their respect for Rock & Roll icon Jimi Hendrix and his band The Jimi Hendrix Experience, and selected Unlimited because they did not want to limit the range of their musical style; WHEREAS, Experience Unlimited developed into one of Washington, D.C.’s original and longest lasting go-go acts. They had the opportunity to record two albums for Virgin Records and tour all over the world including Japan, Antigua, Bermuda, Afghanistan, and El Salvador; WHEREAS, Experience Unlimited has toured Europe as a part of two USO tours, entertaining US military, and they’ve also performed with Teena Marie, Bob Dylan, Morris Day and The Time, Mint Condition, Cameo, and were featured on several tom Joyner cruises; WHEREAS, Experience Unlimited is best known for their Grammy nominated, Soul Train award winning, worldwide hit “Da Butt” which was featured in Spike Lee’s School Daze and charted at number 35 on the Billboard Hot 100; WHEREAS, “Da Butt” also reached number 1 on the Billboard’s Hot Black Singles chart at number 1 the week of April 23, 1988, and was ranked number 61 on VH1’s 100 Greatest One Hit wonders of the 80s; WHEREAS, Experience Unlimited also scored hits with Salt N’ Pepa’s song “Shake Your Thing,” rap innovator Kurtis Blow’s “Party Time”, as well as chart topping originals “Buck Wild” and the soulful ballad “Taste of Your Love”;

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ENROLLED ORIGINAL

WHEREAS, Experience Unlimited and Sugar Bear released another hit “Umm Bop Bopp” in 2000, which gave the band a fresh new fan base at the turn of the century, and went on to release the hit single “Bounce” in 2001 to extensive airplay; WHEREAS, one of Sugar Bear and Experience Unlimited’s finest moments came during the grand opening of the national Museum of African American History and Culture, where they not only performed for dignitaries from around the globe, but were also recognized with artifacts that are displayed in an exhibit celebrating go-go music culture; WHEREAS, over the years Sugar Bear has increased his involvement in community activities through programs such as Teach the Beat, and other personal endeavors such as feeding the homeless with members of Experience Unlimited; WHEREAS, under Sugar Bear’s leadership Experience Unlimited had one of their best years appearing on stage at the 2019 BET awards with superstar actresses Taraji P. Henson and Regina Hall which opened them up to an entirely new fan base, and social media followers; and WHEREAS, with this resurgence of interest in all things Sugar Bear and Experience Unlimited, the band can keep the legacy of Experience Unlimited alive and well for generations to come. RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this resolution may be cited as the “Experience Unlimited Band Ceremonial Recognition Resolution of 2019.” Sec. 2. The Council of the District of Columbia honors Experience Unlimited for their musical contributions to the Ward 8 community and Washington D.C. as a whole. Sec. 3. This resolution shall take effect immediately upon the first date of publication in the District of Columbia Register.

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